Device and method for the transport of hazardous goods receptacles in containers

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a transport device for dangerous goods containers and a process for securing dangerous goods containers inside a transport container. The transport device comprises an ISO container and a system for securing the dangerous goods containers within it. According to the invention, the system comprises: a first set of moulded units (10) which lie adjacent to one another and form a first receiving surface which completely occupies the floor of the container and has openings (12) into each of which the bottom section of a dangerous goods container (2) fits precisely; and a second set of moulded units (20) with openings (21) into each of which the top section of a dangerous goods container fits precisely and so designed that, when fitted adjacent to one another on the dangerous goods containers on the first receiving surface, they form a second receiving surface which completely occupies an intermediate level of the container parallel to the floor.

The invention relates to a transport device for hazardous goodsreceptacles, with an ISO container receiving the hazardous goodsreceptacles and means for securing the loads of the hazardous goodsreceptacles within the container, and to a method for securing the loadsof hazardous goods receptacles in ISO containers for transport.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,919 discloses a transport device for yarn spools ina package. The transport device comprises the features of the preambleof claim 1. In particular, the transport device comprises a firstreceiving surface which fills the bottom surface of the package as asingle part and is shaped such that a plurality of yarn spools can befitted in a regular pattern and with a precise fit onto the firstreceiving surface. Onto the yarn spools a second, correspondingly shapedintegral receiving surface is placed in reverse orientation, whichsecond receiving surface engages an upper portion of the yarn spools andwhich completely fills an intermediate suface of the package. Onto theintermediate surface a further receiving surface is placed onto which asecond layer of yarn spools is placed, the upper portions of the secondlayer of yarn spools being finally engaged by a forth receiving surface,which completely fills the cover surface of the package. Correspondingreceiving surfaces consisting of a single part, would, in case of ISOcontainers, be very difficult to handle and would result in substantialcomplications when loading and unpacking the containers.

Publication WO 85/01714 describes a method for accommodating barrels ofa certain size into an ISO container. For accommodating barrels of 55 USgallons size in an ISO-container it is proposed that the scarf joints atthe base and at the lid of the barrel are pressed inwardly so that theouter diameter of the scarf joints is reduced and adapted to the largestouter diameter of the barrel wall. Furthermore, the reinforcingmouldings on the outer circumference of the barrel are changed so thatin the small side of the container four barrels can be accommodated sideby side, and that along the length of the container 10 rows of barrelscan be arranged. Such a dense package of barrels in containers is, forhazardous goods recepticals, not in compliance with safety regulationssince, with the barrels abutting each other, upon acceleration of thecontainer the inertial forces of all barrels in a row act on thecontainer wall without any dampening which can result in damaging of thecontainer walls during the prescribed acceleration test.

The invention relates in particular to the transport of radioactivewastes which are stored in hazardous goods receptacles such as say steeldrums which are adapted for transport in ISO containers. Special safetyprovisions, such as are set out in the Law relating to the Conveyance ofHazardous Goods and the Hazardous Goods Exemption Order issued on thebasis of the latter, apply to such materials. Listed in the HazardousGoods Exemption Order of 23.6.1993 is Exemption no. 49, which sets outallowability conditions for ISO containers which are to be used for thetransport of LSA and SCO materials. Inter alia, it must be demonstratedthat the containers and the lashing of the cargo additionally withstandincreased load stresses relative to the ISO standard. According toExemption no. 49 of the Inland Waterways, Railways and Roads HazardousGoods Order, certain radioactive substances may be transported incontainers only if the latter including the load-securing devices can,at the maximum permissible total mass of the cargo and the maximumpermissible mass of the individual items to be lashed, absorb the forcesat the following accelerations:

twice the gravitational acceleration in longitudinal direction,

once the gravitational acceleration horizontally sideways,

once the gravitational acceleration vertically upwards, and

twice the gravitational acceleration vertically downwards.

A safety coefficient of 1.5 must be demonstrated.

Previously, hazardous goods receptacles with radioactive contents, steeldrums typically being used, were lashed with stretch straps in order tosecure the load in the containers. The stretch straps were laid runninground several drums and secured in the side walls of the container. Thistype of load securing has proved disadvantageous in various regards.

Although an individual stretch strap is well specifiable per se asregards tensile strength and elongation properties, this does nottransfer directly to a predictability of the load stress conditions in agroup of lashed items when the stretch strap is guided round this groupin a complicated way.

In particular, it is difficult in practical handling to secure hazardousgoods receptacles, such as say steel drums, which have no special guidepossibilities (e.g. securing lugs or tongues) for the stretch straps,reliably and in a reproducible manner according to a preset lashingplan. Furthermore, during the transport of the containers, shaking andmovement of the receptacles within the container inevitably result, sothat the lashing straps can slip against them and drastic changes in theload-bearing capacity of the load-securing means can thus result.

Another consequence of these problems with the securing of the loads ofhazardous goods receptacles by lashing is that the load-bearing capacityof the load-securing means is not mathematically predictable inpractice, so that run-up trials have to be carried out experimentallyanew under real conditions for every loading plan of hazardous goodsreceptacles with specific weights and specific lashing plans in order todemonstrate that the containers and the load-securing means withstandthe above-mentioned acceleration values. This is very costly, as severalrun-up trials basically have to be carried out for every loading plan.

The object of the present invention is to provide a transport device forhazardous goods receptacles in which the latter can be secured in areliable manner and in a way that is stable even during shaking andvibrations, and to offer a method of securing the loads of hazardousgoods receptacles in ISO containers.

The transport device of the type mentioned at the outset with thecharacterizing features of claim 1, and the method with the features ofclaim 11, serve to achieve this object. Advantageous versions of theinvention are listed in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the transport device comprises a firstreceiving surface formed by a plurality of separate first preshapedparts (10) which are movable one against the other and which abut oneagainst the other and, at the edges of the first receiving surface, aresupported by the container walls. The first preshaped parts haveopenings which are adapted to the base of the hazardous good containersand serve for receiving with a precise fit a lower region of a hazardousgoods receptacle. Furthermore, the second receiving surface is formed bya plurality of separate second preshaped parts which are movable oneagainst the other and which have corresponding openings to be capable ofbeing fitted onto an upper region of the hazardous goods receptacles.The second preshaped parts are formed such that they, fitted onto thehazardous goods receptacles placed on the first receiving surface, formin abutment against each other the second receiving surface whichcompletely fills an intermediate surface, parallel to the bottomsurface, of the container and at its edge is supported by the containerwalls. Furthermore, recesses are provided at the edges of the first andsecond preshaped parts by which recesses cavities open to the top areformed into which wedges can be inserted between adjoining preshapedparts. By the insertion of wedges it is ensured that, during shaking ordistortions of the device caused by transport and the relative movementof the preshaped parts among one another that is caused thereby, thewedges drop further into the cavities through the effect of theirweight, as a result of which the receiving surfaces are further securedand pressed against the container walls. A self-stabilization of theload-securing means is thereby achieved.

Through the measures according to the invention, a transport device iscreated for hazardous goods receptacles which securely fits tight evenduring vibrations and shaking caused by transport. Furthermore, thefirst and second receiving surfaces which enclose the hazardous goodsreceptacles above and below absorb in a well definable manner the forcesof inertia of the hazardous goods receptacles which occur duringaccelerations of the transport device, and pass them on to the containerwalls.

A particular advantage of the measures according to the invention isthat, because the hazardous goods receptacles are enclosed in thereceiving surfaces, the forces distribution and force dissipationoccurring because of the forces of inertia of the hazardous goodsreceptacles are well definable and basically computable. This is true inparticular for the forces, otherwise difficult to describe, in the caseof longitudinal and transverse directions of the container. Here in asimple model for a preset loading plan the majority of the known massesof the hazardous goods receptacles which are connected to theneighbouring hazardous goods receptacles or the fixed container wallsvia compression springs can be considered, the compression springsserving to describe regions of the receiving surfaces between therespective hazardous goods receptacles. The essential properties of sucha system of coupled oscillators are computable in advance, so that thelay-out of the load-securing means that is to be undertaken for specificloading plans can be determined without having to carry out run-uptrials for every loading plan under real conditions in order to checkwhether the device withstands the prescribed accelerations.

The preshaped parts are advantageously made from an elasticallydeformable material so that forces of inertia taken up by the receivingsurfaces are absorbed with elastic deformation of the receivingsurfaces.

In another preferred version, the second preshaped parts are providedwith openings on both sides, so that the second receiving surface, whenit is placed onto the hazardous goods receptacles fitted in the firstreceiving surface, in turn has openings on the upper side, each forreceiving with a precise fit a lower region of a hazardous goodsreceptacle, so that another layer of hazardous goods receptacles can befitted onto the second receiving surface. The second layer of hazardousgoods receptacles can in turn be secured on the upper side by a thirdreceiving surface, which, like the second receiving surface, is fittedonto the layer of hazardous goods receptacles and completely fills anintermediate surface, parallel to the bottom surface, of the container.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following withreference to an embodiment in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the transport device in the sectionthrough the second receiving surface;

FIG. 2 shows a section through the transport device along the line 2--2from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a section through the transport device along the line 3--3from FIG. 1.

A 20-foot ISO special container 1, into which hazardous goodsreceptacles 2 in the form of 200-liter drums are fitted, is shown inFIG. 1.

A lateral sectional representation along the line A--A from FIG. 1 isshown in FIG. 2. The bottom surface of the container 1 is completelycovered by eight rectangular first preshaped parts 10 abutting oneagainst the other. Every preshaped part 10 extends transversely to thelongitudinal direction of the container 1 from one side wall to theother and is provided with three openings 12, each for receiving with aprecise fit a lower region of a hazardous goods receptacle 2. It is tobe noted that preshaped parts must in each case be provided for specificreceptacle types, namely for standard receptacles such as 200-liter and280-liter drums. In the shown example, 24 drums can be fitted onto thefirst receiving surface.

Fitted onto the hazardous goods receptacles 2 are second preshaped parts20 which are provided on the underside with openings 21 each forreceiving with a precise fit an upper region of a hazardous goodsreceptacle 2. The second preshaped parts 20 have their openings 21 soarranged that they can be fitted onto the hazardous goods receptacles 2and then, abutting one against the other, completely fill anintermediate surface, parallel to the bottom surface of the container 1,of the container.

In the preferred version, the second preshaped parts 20 correspond intheir dimensions to the first preshaped parts 10, so that the secondreceiving surface has a corresponding structure like the first receivingsurface described above.

Provided in the edges of the second preshaped parts 20 are recesses 24which, between adjoining preshaped parts 20, form wedge-shaped cavitiesin the second receiving surface, into which wedges with high weight,such as say lead-filled sheet steel wedges, can be inserted, thesedropping further into the cavities 24 under their weight duringtransport in the case of shaking or vibrations in the receivingsurfaces, and thus ensuring a stabilization.

The preshaped parts 20 of the second receiving surface are in turnfitted on the upper side with openings 22 which, like the openings 12 inthe first receiving surface, are each formed for receiving with aprecise fit a lower region of a hazardous goods receptacle 2'. It isthereby possible to provide, for a specific stowage plan, that a secondlayer of hazardous goods receptacles 2' is fitted onto the secondreceiving surface. This second layer of hazardous goods receptacles 2'can be secured on the upper side by a third receiving surface which isformed from third preshaped parts 30, which, abutting one against theother, completely fill an intermediate surface parallel to the bottomsurface of the container. The third preshaped parts 30 can have the samestructure as the second preshaped parts 20, in particular be providedwith recesses 34 in the edges, to form cavities tapering like wedges forthe insertion of wedges as described above.

As is to be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second and third preshaped parts20 and 30 are provided on the upper side with recesses which formgrooves 26 and 36 running transversely to the longitudinal axis of thecontainer in the second and third receiving surfaces. In each case aholding rod, lockable in the container side walls, can be inserted intothese. The holding rods serve to secure the second and third preshapedparts against movements perpendicular to the receiving surface.

The first, second and third preshaped parts 10, 20 and 30 are, outsidethe region of the openings, preferably made as sheets of constantthickness. The preshaped parts are preferably so designed according totheir dimensions and the modulus of elasticity of the material that alarge part of the forces of inertia of the hazardous goods receptaclesis elastically absorbed upon accelerations. The preshaped parts arepreferably made from an elastomer material which, with a typicalthickness of the preshaped parts, allows the occurring forces of inertiaof the hazardous goods receptacles to be elastically absorbed for therequired acceleration values.

Preshaped parts are advantageously kept ready for several standardreceptacle types such as say 200-liter drums, 280-liter drums and laidout for different loading plans, whereby the following typical examplescan occur:

a) 48 200-liter drums (two-layer, each layer 24 drums) each weighing437.5 kg maximum; total load weight (including load-securing means):22000 kg;

b) 24 200-liter drums (single-layer) each weighing 875 kg; total weight(including load-securing means): 22000 kg;

c) 42 280-liter drums (two-layer, each layer 21 drums) each weighing 500kg; total weight (including load-securing means): 22000 kg;

b) 21 280-liter drums (single-layer) each weighing 1000 kg; total weight(including load-securing means): 22000 kg.

I claim:
 1. Transport device for hazardous goods receptacles, with anISO container receiving the hazardous goods receptacles and means forsecuring the loads of the hazardous goods receptacles within thecontainer, wherein the load-securing means comprises: a first receivingsurface completely filling the bottom surface of the container (1) withopenings (12) each for receiving with a precise fit a lower region of ahazardous goods receptacle (2), and a second receiving surface whichcompletely fills an intermediate surface, parallel to the bottomsurface, of the container and which has openings (21) each for receivingwith a precise fit an upper region of a hazardous goods receptacle (2)fitted onto the first receiving surface, characterized in thatthe firstreceiving surface is formed by a plurality of separate first preshapedparts (10) which are movable one against the other and which abut oneagainst the other and, at the edges of the first receiving surface, aresupported by the container walls, the second receiving surface is formedby a plurality of separate second preshaped parts (20) which are movableone against the other and which abut one against the other and, at theedges of the second receiving surface, are supported by the containerwalls wherein the first and second preshaped parts (10, 20) haverecesses (24) at their edges by which cavities open to the top areformed into which wedges can be inserted between adjoining preshapedparts (10, 20).
 2. Transport device according claim 1, characterized inthat on the upper side the second preshaped parts (20) have cavitieswhich form grooves (26), running essentially transversely to thelongitudinal axis of the container in the second receiving surface, intowhich holding rods lockable in the container wall can be inserted. 3.Transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that the firstand second preshaped parts (10, 20) each have an essentially rectangularsurface area of a size such that every preshaped part (10, 20) extendsin the container transversely to its longitudinal direction from oneside wall to the other.
 4. Transport device according to claim 1,characterized in that the second preshaped parts (20) are provided onboth sides with openings (21, 22) in such a way that on the upper sidethe second receiving surface has openings (22) each for receiving with aprecise fit a lower region of a hazardous goods receptacle (2'). 5.Transport device according to claim 4, characterized in that theload-securing means have a plurality of third preshaped parts (30) whichhave openings (31) each for receiving with a precise fit an upper regionof a hazardous goods receptacle (2') and are so designed that, placedonto the hazardous goods receptacles (2') fitted in the second receivingsurface, they form a third receiving surface which completely fills anintermediate surface, parallel to the bottom surface, of the container.6. Transport device according to claim 5, characterized in that at theiredges the third preshaped parts (30) have recesses (34) by whichcavities open to the top into which wedges can be inserted are formedbetween adjoining preshaped parts (30) in the third receiving surface.7. Transport device according to claim 6, characterized in that on theupper side the third preshaped parts (30) have recesses which formgrooves (36), running essentially transversely to the longitudinal axisof the container in the third receiving surface, into which holding rodslockable in the container wall can be inserted.
 8. Transport deviceaccording to claim 7, characterized in that, between the third receivingsurface and the cover wall of the container, supporting parts with anadjustable height support the third receiving surface against the coversurface.
 9. Transport device according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe first, second and third preshaped parts (10, 20, 30) consist of anelastomer material.
 10. Transport device according to claim 1,characterized in that the first, second and third preshaped parts (10,20, 30) are sheets with, outside the openings (12, 21, 22, 31), athickness that is constant and uniform between one another.
 11. Methodof securing the loads of hazardous goods receptacles in ISO containersfor transport, wherein as a load securing means the bottom surface ofthe container (1) is completely filled with a first receiving surfacewith openings (12) each for receiving with a precise fit a lower regionof a hazardous goods receptacle (2), the hazardous goods receptacles (2)are fitted into the openings (12), and an intermediate surface, parallelto the bottom surface, of the container is completely filled with asecond receiving surface which has openings (21) each for receiving witha precise fit an upper region of a hazardous goods receptacle (2) fittedonto the first receiving surface, charcterised in thatthe firstreceiving surface is filled by placing a plurality of first separatepreshaped parts (10) so that they are abutting and movable one againstthe other, and, at the edges of the first receiving surface, aresupported by the container walls, that the second receiving surface isformed by a plurality of second separate preshaped parts (20) with itsopenings fitted onto the hazardous goods receptacles (2), wherein thesecond preshaped parts are formed such that they, abutting one againstthe other, completely fill an intermediate surface, parallel to thebottom surface, of the container and are supported at the edges of thesecond receiving surface by the container walls, and that wedges with ahigh weight are inserted into cavities of the first and/or secondreceiving surface, which cavities are formed by recesses (24) in theedges of adjoining preshaped parts (10, 20).
 12. Method according toclaim 11, characterized in that holding rods are inserted essentiallytransversely to the longitudinal direction of the container into grooves(26) provided for them in the upper side of the second receiving surfaceand are locked in the side walls of the container.
 13. Method accordingto claim 11, characterized in that first and second preshaped parts (10,20) with an essentially rectangular surface area with such a size areused that they extend in the container transversely to its longitudinaldirection from one side wall to the other.
 14. Method according to oneclaim 11, characterized in that second preshaped parts (20) are usedwhich are provided on both sides with openings (21, 22) in such a waythat on the upper side the second receiving surface has openings (22)each for receiving with a precise fit a lower region of a hazardousgoods receptacle (2'), in that hazardous goods receptacles (2') areinserted into the openings (22) of the second receiving surface and inthat a plurality of third preshaped parts (30) which have openings (31)each for receiving with a precise fit an upper region of a hazardousgoods receptacle (2') are fitted onto the hazardous goods receptacles(2') of the second receiving surface in such a way that, abutting oneagainst the other, they form a third receiving surface which completelyfills an intermediate surface, parallel to the bottom surface, of thecontainer.